Mubasher: Switzerland filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, the eighth country to challenge the recently introduced duties.

Switzerland challenges the US President Donald Trump’s 25% and 10% tariffs on the imports of steel and aluminium respectively.

Switzerland’s complaint came on the same grounds as other complaints against Washington’s duties filed by the European Union (EU), China, Canada, India, Russia, Mexico and Norway.

“From Switzerland’s point of view, the additional duties, which according to the US have been introduced to protect national security, are unjustified,” the statement from the Swiss economy ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The country exported about 80 million Swiss francs (CHF) ($80.5 million) worth of steel and aluminium products to the US last year.

"Switzerland first intervened with the US in March and also submitted a formal request to the US administration for a country-specific exemption from these import duties," the Swiss government said, noting that the US has not responded to this request.

According to WTO rules, if the US did not settle the issue in 60 days, Switzerland would ask the global arbiter to establish a panel of judges to adjudicate, escalating the dispute.